Multichannel telegraph cable system



April 22, 1930.

c. F. NELSON l1,755,485

MULTICHANNEL TELEGRAPH CABLE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 2. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet lApril 22, 1930. c. F. NELSON MULTICHANNEL TELEGRAPH CABLE SYSTEM FiledAug. 2. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 22, lesoV UNTE STATES vrarerorrics CRESCENT F. NELSON, OF NEW DOR-P, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 'DI-IEWESTERN 'U'N'ONk TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATIONGF NEW YORK MULTICHANNEL TELEGRAPH CABLE SYSTEM Application iiledAugust2, 192'?. Serial No. 210,143.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic telegraph systems, andmore particularly to multi-channel systems.

i The standard two channel telegraph system is divided into two equalparts, each channel being apportioned one half of the traiiic capacityof the system. `While such anarrangement is ordinarily satisfactory,conditions sometimes exist in which the traliic load of one channel isoften considerably lgreater than the load ofthe otherchannel. Under suchcircumstances, it each channel is assigned an equal portion of thesignaling capacity of the system, the channel with the heavy trathcwould be overtaxed while the other channel would be operating below thenormal line capacity.

In systems including a repeater station, the gnal traliic between therepeater station and either terminal station is often considerably1 lessthan that between the terminal stations. Nevertheless, in the standardsystemthe repeater station signals over one of the two equal channelsand thus takes one half ot the ltotal tratlic handling capacity of thesystem. In such a case, the same difficulty occurs, the one channelbetween the terminal stations being overtaxed and the second channeloperating below its capacity. A further illustration is found in thecase where a repeater station is connected to one terminal station isoperating` at its maximum capacity by' reason of the greater signalingcapacity of the former.

It is desirable however, to distribute the signaling tratlic evenly overthe entire signaling period yin order that the maximum signaling ca acitof the s'stem ma be n c: v

utilized. Y p

An object ot my invention, therefore, is to provide means for allottingunequal proportions of the total tratiic capacity to thediferentchannels oi a telegraph system.

Another object of my invention is to pro-v vide a vmultiplex telegraphsystem in which each channel is allotted a portion of the totalsignaling capacity of. the system, the portion assigned to each channelbeing depen-' dent on the signaling traffic requirements of thatparticular channel.

Another object of my invention is to provide a telegraph system in whicha greater percentage of the total capacity of the system is allotted toone channel over' which vthere is comparatively more tratiic and asmaller percentage of the total capacity of the system is allotted to asecond channel over which th ere is ycomparatively less trai-lic.

Still another objecto'f myrinvention is to provide means for operatingeach of two cablesconnected at a repeater station and having differentsignaling speeds at maximum capacity. y

Where a multi-channel system is employed which is incapable ot signalingwith a separate recorder for each channel, there is a zero period oneach recorder, during the time the other recorder is receiving itssignal. This is confusing to the receiving operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a multi-channel system,means whereby more unit impulses are transmitted and received over eachof one or more channels during any period of time than over theremaining channel or channels. p

An object of my invention is to provide means tor operating a recorderwhich receives a signal during only part of the signal period for thefull length oi' time assigned to each signaling impulse so as -toeliminate all Zero intervals `except those which are transmitted by the`terminal station.

`There are other objects ot' my inventionV Which-togetherwith theforegoing will appear inthe following description Withretererence to theaccompanying drawings, in which l Figure l is a diagram ofthe circuitconnections and apparatus at a transmitting station, illustrating oneapplication of my invent-ion in which a high speed channel fromatransmitting station to a receiving station is ccnnected through at anintermediate station, a low speed channel is connected from thetransmittingstation to the intermediate station and a low speed channelis connected from the intermediate station to the receiving station.

Figure 2 is a diagram of the circuit connections and apparatus at theintermediate or repeating station.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the circuitconnections and apparatus at thereceiving station.

Figure l is a diagram of the circuit connections an'd apparatus at therepeating station illustrating another application of my invention inwhich a high speed channel operates from a transmitting station to areceiving station, repeating through a repeating station and a lowspeed'channel operates from a transmitting vstation to the intermediateVstation.

Figure 5 is a diagram of the circuit connections and apparatus atl therepeating station illustrating another application of my invention inwhich a high speed channel operates from a transmitting station to areceiving station, repeating through a repeating station and a low speedchannel operating from the repeating to the receiving station.

.Figure 6 is` a diagram of the circuit connections and apparatus at therepeating station illustrating another application of my invention i-nwhich a high speed channel operates from a transmitting station to areceiving station, repeating through a repeating station, with amodified form of locking cir cuit.- y

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, a transmitting'distributorcomprising a solid ring 1 and a segmented ring 2 bridged by a rotatingbrush 3, is divided into two channels.

Since the signaling traiiic in a high speed channel is greater than thatof the low speed channel, a larger number of impulses will betransmitted over the former than over the latter. Obviously the ratio ofthe capacity of the high speed channel tothe low speed channel may beany value, dependingv onthe re- Since, as pointed out above, the highspeedV channel transmit-ter transmits four impulses for each impulse ofthe low speed channel transmitter, the first four sections 1 to L1, ofthe transmitting ring comprising the high speed channel are 'connectedin multipleover the conductor 4 to tape controlled contacts 5 and 6 ofthe high speed transmitter. The

second channel on the transmitting ring comprising the last group ofsegments 5 is connected over the conductors 7 to the tape controlledcontacts 8 and 9 of the low speed transmitter.

The magnet 10 controls the feelers of the tape (not shown) forwithdrawing the feelers from the tape between signaling impulses andsteps the tape to a succeeding perforation in the manner shown indetailrin the patent to Benjamin No. 1,298,440, datedli/Iarch 25, 1919.rThe magnet 10 is connected over the conductor 11 to the segmented ringl2 and periodically energized from the positive side of battery over therotating brush 13, which bridges the ring 12 and the solid ring 14. Thebrushes 13 and 3 are mechanically joined and rotate over theirrespective rings inV synchronism. Similarly, the low speed transmittertape is controlled by the magnet 15 which functions in a similar mannerto remove the feelers fromthe tape (not shown) so as to permit the tapeto be moved to each succeeding perforation of the code characters. Themagnet 15 is controlled over a con ductor 16 connected tothe segments onthe segmentedv distributor 12 in the manner already described inconnection with the mag net 10. Since am illustrating myinvention inconnection with cable code signaling, I disclose only two tapecontrolled contacts for positive and negative respectively. It will beevident however, to those skilled in the arl that my invention is alsoapplicable to sys tems employing the five unit code.

Associated with the solid transmitting ring 1 are a pair of lockingrelays 17, 18 and a pair of sending relays 19, 20 connected in series.Each of these relays is provided with a biasing winding b which normallyurges the armature againstl its left hand or spacing contact. rEhe mainwindings of the relays 17, 18 and 19, 20 are oppositely poled so that apulse of one polarity which moves the armature of one winding to itsmarking contact ir opposition to the biasing winding will maintain thearmature of the other winding on its spacing contact. A. cable 28 isthus normally grounded over the left hand contacts ofv armatures 26 and27.` With no current flowing through the main windings of relays 17 and18, the biasing windings Z) will maintain their armatures 21 and 22normally in engagementv with their left hand contacts, and similarly thebiasing windings of the sending relays 19V and 20 will maintain theirIarmatures 26 and 27 normally in engagement with their left handcontacts.

As will be evident from the description which follows, the steppingmagnet 1() of the high 'speed distributor functionsV to step its tape tothe succeeding perforation, preceding the connection of the contacts 5or 6 to the locking relays 17 and 18. It will be assumed for purposes ofillustration, that the tape conl that the perforation was such as tocause dot' trolled feelers (not shown) have beenoper-l ated by theperforated tape (not shown) and contacter to engage its contact. It willbe assumed that the brush 3 at this time engaged the first or pick-up'segment of the transmitting ring 2.

A circuit is completed from the positive side of battery over thecontact arm 5 and its contact, conductor 4, the first or pick-up segmentof group 1, of ring 2, through brush 3,

solid ring 1, through the windings of the locking relays 17 and 18, andthe windings of the sending relays 19 and 20 to the mid-point or splitof the battery. As a result of this circuit the winding 17 is energizedand moves its armature 21 into engagement with its right hand Contactwhile the energization of the winding 13, by reason of its oppositepoling from the winding 17, will add to the force produced by thebiasing winding b to maintain the armature 22 in engagement with itsleft hand Contact. In a like manner, the winding 19 is energized andmoves its armature 26 into enga-gement with its right hand contact whilethe energization of the winding 20, by reasony of its opposite polingfrom the Winding 19 will add to the force produced by the biasing.Winding I) to maintain the armature 27 in engagement with its left handcontact. n

When now the brush 3 is moved into engagement with the second segment ofgroup 1, a locking circuit is completed from positive battery over theright hand contact vand armature 21 to said second segment of thesegmented ring 2. over brush 3, and solid ring 1, through the mainwindings of relays 17, 18 and 19, 20 in series to the mid-point of thebattery.

At the sending relays, the energization of thefwinding of relay 19functions to hold its armature 26 into engagement with its right handcontact and the energizationof the relay 20 functions by reason of itsopposite poling to aid the holding effect of the biasing winding tomaintain the armature 27 in engagement'with its left hand contact. As aresult, a circuit is completed from ground, over the armature 26 and itsrighty hand contact, through the battery 29, the left hand contact andarmature 27 of relay 20, to the cable 28.

Simultaneously, as the brush 13 engages its second segment, anenergizing circuit is completed for the magnet ofthe high speedchanneltransmitter from positive batt-ery, through solid ring 14, brush 13, thesecond segment of ring 12, and winding of-magnet 10- to negativebattery. The energization of the winding 10 removes the feelers of thetransmitter from the tape in the well known manner shown in the patentreferred to above and permits the tape to be stepped to its succeedingperforation for the transmission of a second impulse. A locking circuitis maintained as shown above for the impulse impressed on the'cable'inaccordance with the preceding tape perforation while the tape is beingstepped forward to the succeeding perforation. When the brush 13 engagesits fourth segment, a similar circuit is completed for the magnet of thelow speed transmitter from positive battery, through solid vring 1li,brush 13, through the fourth segment of the ring 12, conductor 1G andmagnet 15 to negative battery. The energization of the magnet 15functionsA to remove the feelers from the tape of the slow speedtransmitter and permits the tape to be stepped to the next succeedingperforation, to thereby prepare the slow speed transmitter for thetransmission of the next impulse on this channel.

lll/Then the brush 3 of the transmitting ring engages the fifth segmentof ring 2, the lockingV circuit for the sending relays 17 and 1S tracedabove, is opened and the relays 17, 18y

and 19, 2O are deenergized, permitting their armatures to be moved totheir left hand or spacing `contacts under the operation of theirbiasing windings 7).

At the same time, a second transmitting impulse is impressed on theconduct-or 4i in accordance withthe new perforation of the tape. it willbe recalled that the tape was stepped to a new position while thebrushes 3 and 13 were passing over the second and third segments.Contractors 5 or 6 have now been operated in accordance with the newtape perforation. In a manner as described above, armatures 21 or 22and26 or 27 are again operated, depending upon the polarity of theimpulse transmitted and as the brush 3 moves into engagement with thelocking segments of the second group on the segmented ring 2, a lockingcircuit is then conipleted for maintaining the operated armature of thetransmitting or sending-on relay in engagement with the contact it hasassumed.

ln this manner, four impulses are transmitted over the first channel ofthe system. After an impulse is started, a locking circuit is completedtherefor while the tape is stepped to the next perforation. The highspeed channel operation is thus obtained.

ldlhen the brush 3 engages the first of the group marked 5, which is theseventeenth segment of the ring 2', a circuit is completed for thesending-on relays 19 and 2O as described above, eXcept that it iscompleted from the low speed tape transmitter contacts 8 or 9 of thesecond channel. The circuit is completed Vfrom positive ornegativebatterv to either the contactor 8 or 9, depending upoii whether theperforation in the tape of the low speed transmitter corresponded to apositive feeler or to a negative feeler, then through conductor 7 to theseventeenth segment andk through brush 3, and the windings of relays 17,18 and 19, 2O in series to the mid-point of the battery. Y t

Let it be assumed that the contacter 8 is caused to engage its contact,and an impulse of positive polarity is impressed upon the circuit lastdescribed. The energization of relay ywinding 19 causes its armature 26to move over its right hand contact while the oppositely poled Winding2O holds its armature 27 against its lett hand or spacing contact. Animpulse of negative polarity is therefore transmitted into the vcable.from ground through armature 26, right hand contact, battery 29, letthand contact 4and armature 27 to cable 28. Since but a single impulse isto be transmitted over the low speed channel, it is unnecessary to stepthe tape for transmitting a second impulse at this time since a longinterval will elagse during the operation ot' the high speed channelduring which the tape can be stepped. Hence no locking circuit isprovided for the low speed channel transmitter. For this reason, all otthe tour segnents assigned to the second channel and designated 5,5, 5,on the segmented ring 2, are connected in multiple tothe contact to thelow speed tape transmitter, since the tape transmitter in this case willremain in position until the end ot the impulse. 'In this manner, tourimpulses are transmitted over the high speed channel and a singleimpulse transmitted over the low speed channel.

Referring now to Figure 2, showing` an interniediate or repeaterstation, the impulses received over the transmitting` cable 28 functionto energize th-e relay 30. Which in turn, through the ,usual localcircuits (not shown) operates the armatures 31 and 32 ot' repeatingrelays. These relays repeat the four impulses from the high speedchannel to the corresponding picl-up segments ofthe segmented ring ot1the retransmitting rings. This ring is divided into five sections orgroups oi' tour segments each. rEhe first tour sections or groups,comprise the tour transmitting pon tions of the tirst channel andtheii`th section or group of segments constitutes the second channel.

`he solid ring 341 connected serially with the windings ot the lockingrelays 37 and S38.

The armatures 42 and i3 are connected to the windings ot' the sending-onrelays ilfand i5 and-to the locking segments off the ring Attention isdirected to the circuit connections oi the locking relays as'comparedwith those at the transmitting station. .The Windings ot the sending-onrelays 19 and 20, at the transmitting station, are connected d1- rectlyin series with the windings 'o' the locking relays which are thereforeenergized simultaneously when the Wiper 3 engages the iirst segment. Atthe reoeating station, on the other hand, the locking rel ys areactuated When the brush 3S passes over the pick-up segment, but thesending-on relays are not actuated until the brush is -in engagement-With the succeeding distributor segment.

Consequently the retransmitted ,impulses are all of a uniform length andare not dependent upon the amount ot' the received signal utilized tooperate the locking relays.

In addition tothe retransmitting rings 34, 35 `for repeating the codesignals of the `high speed channel, the distributor at the intermediatestation comprises dropped record rings 50, 51 for transferring theincoming signals ot the low speed channel to a recording instrument, andtransmitter operating rings 52, 53 for transmitting signals from a localtape transmitter over the low speed channel from the repeater .stationto the distant terminal station.

Only tivo of the segments 5, of the transmitter ring 53 are connected tothe actuating magnet 69 of the tape transmitter. The con: tactor arms70, 7l, one of which is actuated VWhenever the tape is stepped to a newposition, are connected by conductor 72, to the picleup segment of thegroup of segments 5, 5, of the retransinitting ring 35, assigned to theloiv speed channel.

As the impulses are received over the cableV 28the cable relay 30 isenergized in accordance With the signal impulses and causes the localdot and dash relays to move their armatures 3l or 32 in accordance withthe received impulses.

As it was assumed that the first signal transmitted over the cable 28Was an impulse ot a posit-ive polarity, it Will be assumedthat thearmature 3l is operated thereby into engagementyvith its right handcontact. An impulse is thereupon impressed from the positive side otbattery over theright hand contact and armature 3l to the iirst orpick-up segment ot the rctransmitting segmented ring 35, thro-ugh brush36. and solid ring 34. through the windings 37and'88 or" thelockinrelays in series and to the mid-point or split ofthe battery. Thewinding 37 overpowers the effect et the biasing Wind-ing and moves thearmature l2 into engagement with its right hand contact. Since theWinding 38 is oppositely poled from'that of the Winding 3?, 1t assiststhe biasing Winding to maintain the armature 43 in engagement with itsleft hand or spacing contact.

A locking circuit is completed for relay 37 when brush 36 passes overthe second segment, from positive battery over the right hand contactand armature 42, through the windings of sendingen relays 44rand i5 inVseries and o ver the second segment oit ring 35, brush 36. ring 34, theWin dings of locking relays 37 and 38 in series to the mid-point ofbattery.

The energization of relay Winding 44. overpowers the biasing Winding andcauses the armature 47 to engage its right hand contact. therebycompleting a circuit from ground over the armature 47 and its right handcontact, through the battery, the left hand contact and armature 48 andsending an impulse lil() llO to the cable 73. By reason of the lockingcircuit described above, this impulse continues to be impressed upon thecable 73 as long as the brush wipes over the three locking segments 1.YVhen the brush leaves the group of segments 1, the locking circuittraced above is broken andthe biasing winding b returns the armature 47.to its left hand or spacing contact thereby grounding the cable.

During this period the brushes 52 and 66 of the distributor have beenpassing over their rings in synchronism with the brush 36. The brush 52has been-maintaining a locking circuit through the dropped recordlocking relays 58 and 59. As the brush 66 passed over the two segmentsof ring 53, marked 5, 5, the actuating magnet 69 of the local tapetransmitter was energized, causing the tape to bc stepped to the nextposition. The eelers moved one or the other of the contactor arms 70, 71into engagement with its battery contact, setting up the correspondingpositive or negative polarity on the first l0r pick-up segment of group5, 5 or' the transmitting ring 35.

The signals received over the low speed channel are not to beretransmitted but are to be recorded at the repeater station. For thispurpose the armatures 31 and 32 of the local receiving dot and dashrelays which are connected in multiple to the pick-up segments -oit thefour groups of segments of ring 35, as-

signed to the high speed channel, are also connected by conductor 54,with a segment designated 5 of dropped record ring 51. The

brush 52 moves onto this segment while the signal impulse of the lowspeed channel is being received by the cable relay 30. if this is anegative impulse the local relay armature 32 will move against its righthand or marking contact closing a circuit from negative ba tery througharmature 32, conductor 54, segment 5 ofi-ing 51, brush T3, solid ring5U, conductor 60, windings of dropped record relays 58, 59 and low speedchannel recorder (il to the mid-point or split of the battery. As thebrush 52 moves from the pick-up seg- -ment to the next segment a lockingcircuit is closed from. negative battery through armature 56, conductor57, said lirst locking segment, brush. 52, solid ring 50, conductor 60,the windings 58, 59 and recorder 61 to the `split ot thc'battery. Thislocking circuit is maintained as the brush is passing over all et' theremaining segments which are multipled to conductor 57, so that theremay be no break or Zero mark except thosetransmitted by a terminalstation on the record tape of recorder 61 between received signals`which would be confusing or make the record unincording of the lowspeed channel signal on the recorder A61, the brush 36 passed onto therst or pick-upsegment yoit the group of -segvtransmitted .to the distantstation over the .low speed channel ot the cable 73.

At the distant terminal station, illustrated in Figure 3, the impulsesreceived over the -cable 73, roperate a receiving relay 74, which in theusual manner, controls a pair of local receiving relays indicated by thearmatures 75,' 76. These armatures are connected'in multiple to theiirst or pick-up segments of earch of the tour sections or groups ofsegments comprising the high speed channel receiving ring of the rotarydistributor. Since it was assumed that the first impulse sent into thecable at the transmitting station and repeatedl at the intermediate orrepeater station was of positive polarity, the arma-ture 75 will bemoved against its marking contact. A circuit will thus be completed frompositive battery through armature 75, pick-up segment l, brush 79,]solid ring 77, and the oppositely poled windings of the lockingrelays 82 and 83 to the mid-1 point or split or' the battery. The pullof winding 82 will overpower the eii'ect of biasing winding b and movethe armatures 85 against its marking contact. As the brush passes :tromvthe pick-up segment onto the iirst locking segment," circuit iscompleted from positive battery, through armature 86, conductor 81, saidlocking segment, brush 79, solid ring 77, and locking relays 82 vand 83to the split of battery. Simultaneously a multiple circuit is completedfrom positive battery, armature 86, conductor 88, the first or pick-upsegment or" the group marked 1,-ofv

the high speed channel recording ring 89,

.through brush 92, solid ring 91, the oppositely poled windings of thehigh speed recording relays 94 and 95, to the high speed channelrecording instrument 101 to the midpoint or split of battery. As brush92 passes on to the second segment marked l, which is the third segmenton the high'speed channel recording ring 89, a circuit is establishedfrom positive battery'right hand contact andarmature 99 through thesecond segment marked 1, ring 89, brush 92, ring 91, windingsv 94 and95, recording instrument -101 to the split of the battery. This-*circuitlocks the impulse previously received on v recording instrumentlOl. Inlike manner feach of the. impulses 'received over the high.

speed channel off the cable is' recorded by the instrument 101.

. The impulse of the low speed channel is received by the cable relay 74`and one or the other armature 75 or 76 immediately after the fourthimpulse of the high speed channel and is transmitted over conductor 102to a segment of' theV low speed recording distributor ring 105,corresponding to the segmeiit of ring 89 which receives the fourthimpulse of the high speedA channel from the locking relay. Assuming thata positiveimpulse was received over the loW speed channel, when thebrush 106`moves-onto said segment of ring' 105, a circuit is completedfrom positive battery over armature 75, conductor 102, said segment 5,brush 106,solid ring 104, oppositely poled windings of the low speedlocking relays 106, 107, and low speed channel recorder 112 to themid-point or split of battery. The relays are maintained in lockedposition while the brush 106 is passing over all of the other segi'nentswhich are inultipled together in order that the record strip of therecorder shall not show any zero mark between-the signaling impulses,except those which are transmitted from the transmitting station.

Since there is always an impulse in the low speed channel interposedbetween each four impulses in the high speed channel, the high speedchannel occupies only four fifths of the total receiving period. Therewould therefore be a zero period between every four impulses in the highspeed channel record which would render the record tape of the vrecorderunintelligible. f In order to overcome this diiiiculty,provisionis madewhereby eachreceived impulse is increased to one fourth of the total lowchannel period so that the entire signaling period is consumed in theoperation of the high speed channel recorder. This is accomplished byreceiving the impulses of tliehigh speed channel on one distributor ringand storing them in succession on locking relays; The impulses are thentransferred in succession to another ring in which the segmentscoveringthe entiresignalingperiod are divided equally between the four signalingimpulses and from this ring they are transmitted to the recorder. Thusthe signals ofthe high speed channel are received from the receivingrelay armatures 7 5 and 76 upon ring 7S in which four segments areassigned to each impulse 'and after being stored successively upon the'locking relays 82, 83,-they'aie transferred to `the recording ring`89,as the-brush 9:2 moves thereover, in which live segments are assigned toeach impulse so that the recording ofl the four high speed channelimpulses" on the instrument 101 occupies the entire sig'- nalingperiod.-

From the forego'ng it. Willpber evident that theentire system is;-op'eratedi at all times-atimpulses:

full capacity by transmitting four impulses over the high speedy channeland a single impulse over the low speed channel in the systemillustrated, allot-ting proportional time for each of the two channelsin accordance with the demands of traiiic. It will be noted also thatalthough the impulses received over the low speed channel are properlyseparated from the impulsesover the high speed channel and neither takesthe full operating period of the distributor, the recorders are soarranged that no zero periods except those transmitted from thetransmitting station occur on the record tapes of the recordingiiistruments, and the copyist may thus very easily read the recordtaken. lt will be understood of course, that the distributors at thesethree stations in the above described system are maintained insynchronisin in the well known manner.

Although I have illustrated my invention as applied to a system in whichthere is a high speed channel between the two terminal stations, whichoperate through a repeater station with low speed channel from eachterminal station to the repeater station, it is obvious that my systemmay be applied to many other systems where there is unequal signaltratiic over the various channels.

rlhus, for example, one system may be arranged in which there is a highand a low speed channel between the two terminal stations, cpei'atingthrough the repeater station, or a low speed channel may be operatedbetween the two terminal stations through a repeater station with a highspeed channel between each terminal station and the repeater station.The invention may also be appliedv to a system inv which a highV speedchannel operates-between the terminal station operating through arepeater station with a. low speed channel between one terminal andtherepeater station or between the other terminal and the repeater station;or there may be a low speed channel between the terminal stations with ahigh speed channel between one terminal and the intermediate station `orthe other terminal and the intermediate station. find in fact, myinvention can be applied to any number of similar combinations ofsystems.

Figure 4 illustrates one of such modifications of my invention in whicha high speed channel operates between the two terminal stations througha repeater station, and al low speed channel operates from the firsttransmitting station to the repeater station. The circuits-in thisligure are those at the repeater station.

Impulses received from the transmitting station to the repeater stationoperate the receiving relays, indicatedl by the armatures ll'ancl 116,in accorda-nce withthe received The armatures 115 and 1.16 areconnected" in multiple to the-first orpfick-upV segment of each ofthefour groups of seg-` ments assigned to the high speed channel receivingring 118 o'th `the rotary distributor. The solid ring 119 is connectedto the oppositely poled'windings of the locking relays 120 and 121. Thearmatures 125, 126, which are normally held against their. spacingcontacts by the constantly energized biasing windings Z1, are connectedin multiple to all of the locking segments of ring 118, and are alsomultipled through the conductor 127 to the first or pick-up segment ofeach oitl the four groups of'segments of the high speed channelretransmitting ring 129.

' The solid ring 130, is connected to the oppositely poled windings 132,133 of the rc,- transmitting locking relays vin series and to the splitof battery. The armatures 137, 13S, normally held against their spacingcontacts by their biasing windings Z) are connected in parallel to theseries-connected oppositely' -poled windings 135, 136 of the sending-onrelays and through conductor 142 to all of the locking segments of ring129 in multiple.

The signal impulse received over the low speed channel or' the cable,following the reception oi' the four impulses over the high speedchannel, is transmitted over conduc' tor 149, to the pickup segment ofthe low channel recording ring 148, All ofV the other segments of thisring are connected in multiple to the armatures 155,156 of the low speedchannel locking rings. The solid ring` 147 is connected in series to the'oppositelypoled windings 151, 152'01I the low speed instrument 157 andthe split of battery.

"mitting station to the intermediate repeating tact.

-rtact.

-ings of locking relays and 121 to the midpoint of the battery. Theenergization of the winding 120 operates the armatureinto engagementwith its right hand contact, in opposition tothe pull of its biasingwinding 2). Theenergization of the oppositely poled relay 121 assistsits biasing winding to maintain the armature 126 in engagement with itsleft hand or spacing con- A circuit is thus completed, when the brushl117 engages the second segment, from positive side of battery `througharmature '125, over said second segment of the ring 118,

brush-117 solidring1119, and the A,winding ol' the locking relays 120'and 121 to Ythemidpoint of the battery.

Simultaneously as the brush 131 engages the second segment of ring 129,which is the pick-up segment of the group of segments marked 1, acircuit is completed. from the positive side of battery over the armatie125, conductor 127, said'pick-up segmentv of group 1, of ring 129,'brush131, solid ring 130, the

windings of locking relays 132 and 133 to-v ing-on relays through thethird segment ofv ring 129, which is the first locking segment ot' group1, through brush 131, solid ringl and the windingsof the locking relays1132 and 133 to the mid-point of the battery. The

-energization of the relay 135 moves its armature 144 into engagementwith its right h and contact while its armature 144 into yengagementwith its right hand contact while the armature 145 ismaintained inengagement with its left hand contact. An impulse of predeterminedpolarity is thereby' impressed upon the cable 146.

It will be observed that while the four impulses of the high speedchannel received at the intermediate station were each assigned a'length of four segments on the distributor ring, the remaining periodbeing used by the n -impulse of the low speed channel, the im- As theimpulses are recelved from the transy pulses retransmitted to the cable146 are each assigned five segments on the ring 129, the

four impulses thus occupying the entire signaling period of the cable.

Vhen the brush engages the segment of the low speed channel recordingring 148, to which the conductor 149 is connected, the impulse receivedover the low speed channel is transmitted over either armature 115 orarmature 116 to operate the low speed channel recorder 157 in a mannerwhich has already been described in detail in connection with recorders61 and 112. `It will be noted that the segments of the low speedrecording channel are all multipled together except the segment to whichthe conductor 149 is connected so that when the impulse is received vitis locked up and a record is made during the en- 7- tire signalingperiod until the next impulse on the low channel is received.y In thismanner no idle period except those transmitted from the transmittingstation'r appears either on the high or lthe low speedchannel. l

Figure 5 illustrates the apparatus and circuit arrangements at arepeating station in a system wherein a high speed channel is operatedbetween the two terminal stations through the repeating station and alow speed channel is operated from the repeating station to the distantterminal station. Since the low speed channel exists only between theintermediate or repeating station and the distant terminal station, itis obvious that the high speed channel will employ all of the linesignaliiig period between the transmitting station and the intermediatestation, but between the intermedate` or repeating station and thedistant terminal station the high speed channel can only be assignedfour-fifths of the signaling time leaving the remaining fifth for thelow speed channel.

By comparing the relative positions ofl the numbers assigned-to thesegments of the high speed receiving ring 173 with those of theretransmitting ring 179, it will be observed that the first impulselocked up on one of the locking relays 184, 185, is not relayed frombattery through the armature 186 or 187 to the pickup segment 1 of theretransmitting ring until just before the second impulse is received bythe receiving relays 174, 175. The four impulses of the high speedchannel are then relayed a-nd equally spaced, being each assigned foursegments on the retransmitting ring 179. The time or period thus gainedis employed for operating the impulse over the low speed channel, in themanner already described, onver the first four segments marked 5, on thering 179. rIhe low speed channel transmitter is controlled by the magnetwinding 196 which operates to remove the fingers from the perforatedtape and steps the tape forward to the succeeding perforation inpreparation for transmitting the next code signal impulse over the lowspeed channel transmitter in the manner previously described.

The tape transmitter operating magnet 196 is operated when the brush 181moves across the two segments marked 5, 5 on the ring' 198, at whichtime the brush 180 is on the pick-up segment of the group 1. on the ring179 to transmit the first impulse of the preceding set ot impulses onthe high speed channel to the cable 197. The new impulse set up by thelow speed channel tape transmitter upon said pick-up segment 5 of ring179 by contactor 182 or 183, as above described, will not be transmittedhowever, until the brush 180 passes over the remaining segments of thering 179 and again begins to traverse the ring 179. The operation of thelocking relays 188, 189 and their armatures 190, 191 encrvfizes thesending-on relays 192, 193 and transmits the signal impulses into thecable' 197 as will be clear from the previous dctailed description inconnection with the preceding figures.

In the arrangements previously described the signal impulses have beenstored momentarily in succession in locking relays. An alternativemethod of storing the impulses is l,disclosed in Figure `6, in which acondenser -is employed in lieu fot storing or locking relays. Thisfigure shows an arrangement of circuits for an intermediate or repeatingstation similar to the arrangement in Figure 5. The signal impulsescoming in over the cable actuate one or the other receiving relay,indicated by the armatures 200, 201, in accordance with the polarity ofthe impulses. A. high speed channel occupies the full signaling periodof the incoming cable and consequently the high speed channel receivingring 203 of the rotary distributor is divided into four equal groups offive segments each.

As in the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the outgoing cable between therepeating station and the distant terminal station is divided between ahigh speed channel and a low speed channel. Consequently theretransmitting ring 206 is divided into five groups of four segmentseach, the four groups marked 1, 2, 3, 4, being allotted to the highspeed channel and the group marked 5, being allotted to the low speedchannel. At the instant brush 209 is on the first segment of ring 206,as shown in Figure 6, a signal impulse is being transmitted to the lowspeed channel of the cable 220 from the low speed channel tapetransmitter 210, through conductor 224, segments marked 5 of ring 206,brush 209, solid ring 207 and the oppositely poled windings ofsending-on relays 214 and 215 to the mid-point of battery. Either thearmature 216 or the armature 217 will be moved over against its markingcontact, thereby sending an impulse from battery 218 into the cable 220.The relays 214 and 215 are unbiased and hence the armatures 216 and 217remain in the position to which they were last moved. All of the otherrelays shown in Figures 1 to 5, are provided with biasing windings bwhich are constantly energized to return the armatures to their back orspacing contact as soon as the main operating windings are deenergized.

At the instant the brush 204 engages the first segment on the ring 203,a signal impulse is received over the cable from the transmitting orfirst station which operates either the armature 200 or the armature 201ot' the local receiving relays against its marking contact, therebyclosing a circuit from positive or negative battery through saidarmature, solid ring 202. brush 204, segment 1 of ring 203, to one plateof condenser 205, thc other plate being connected to the mid-point orsplit ot the battery. A charge is thus stored on the condenser. When thebrush 209 engages the fifth segment of ring 206, marked 1, which is thefirst segn'ient of the high speed channel, the condenser 205 dischargesover a path through conductor 221, said segment 1 of ring 206, throughbrush 209, solid ring 207 and the windings of sendingson relays 214 and215, causing armature 216 to move toits right hand or marking contactand thereby sending an impulse Afrom battery intocable 220.Simultaneously a circuit is closed from positive battery through solidring 223, brush 222, and the magnet 210 of the low speed tapetransmitter, which sets up a new code signal from battery throughcontact 230 or contact 231, through conductor 224 upon the segmentsmarked 5 on the ring 206, in readiness to be transmitted over the lowspeed channel of cable 220 when the brush 209 has completed thetransmission of the four impulses of the high speed channel and startsupon another revolution.

Immediately after the condenser 205 has discharged over the path abovetraced, the brush 204 engages the iirst segment marked 2 on this ringand at this instant another signal impulse is received on the receivingrelays, thereby causing armature 200 or 201 to engage its markingContact, a corresponding charge being stored on condenser 205. Theimpulses coming in over the cable from the distant transmitting stationand received on the relays 200, 201 are in this manner chargedsuccessively upon condenser 205 and retransmitted into cable 220.

The armatures of the dot and dash sendingon relays 214, 215 beingunbiased, remain against the contacts to which they were moved. Aftereach impulse is transmitted to the cable, the armature 216 or 217 isrestored to its spacing or back contact by an impulse through restoringwindings r, from plus battery through solid ring 223, brush 222, one ofthe segments marked 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of ring 226, conductor225, andrestoring windings r, to negative battery.

Although I have disclosed my invention in connection with a two channelsystem it is obvious that the invention may be applied to anymulti-channel system, either operating between two terminal stationswith an intermediate repeating station or between terminal stations andtwo or more repeating stations, or in fact, in any multi-channel system.

My system may also be applied to a system in which one section of thecable has a higher operating speed than the other section. In this case,the through channel may be operated at the maximum speed of the slowersection and in addition another channel may be applied in the mannerdescribed in the various illustrations, to the higher speed sections sothat both cable sections will be operatedv at their maximum speed. Thusfor example, if the cable between the main transmitting station and therepeating station is capable of operating at one fourth of the speed ofthe cable connecting the repeater to the remote receiving station, asingle channel system can be Operated between the main transmittingstationand the repeating station and a twochannel system from theintermediate station to the remote receiving station. The single channelimpulses received from the transmitting station being retransmittedthrough the repeater in the manner disclosed in the drawings.

It is obvious from the above that my invention has many applications andmay take on many forms and hence I do not intend it to be limited to thespecial application which I have employed to illustrate the inventionbut only in so far as set forth in the appended claims, in which Iclaim: 1. A multi-channel telegraph system com Vprising a telegraph lineor cable connecting two remote stations, the amount of signaling traiicin one channel being different from that in the other channel in thesame direction, and means for apportioning said telegraph line to eachci said channels for periods of time proportional to the traic in saidchannels.

2. In a telegraph system, a first station, a remote station, amulti-channel telegraph system including a signaling line connectingsaid stations, the trafic in said channels being unequal, and means forapportioning said signaling line time to each of said channels in 4thesame direction in accordance with the traffic of said channels.

3. In a multi-channel telegraph system a vrst station, a second station,transmitters for the several channels at each ot said stations,

the traffic carried by the respective transmitters in the same directionbeing unequal and means for apportioning said signaling line time toeach of said transmitters in accordance with the proportion of traiiiccarried b it.

574. The method of telegraphy which comprises associating a plurality oftransmitters to a signaling conductor successively inthe same directionfor diierent periods of time .dependent upon the trahc carried by therespective transmitters.

5. In a multi-channel telegraph system, a first station, a remotestation, a signaling line connecting said stations, transmitters for thedi'erent channels at said iirst station, means for associating saidtransmitters to the channels of said signaling line successively fortrailic in the same direction and means for maintaining saidtransmitters associated with said signaling line Jfor periods of timeproportional to the traic load of said respective transmitters.

respectively, in accordance with the traffic of second station, amulti-channel system connecting said stations, each of said channelsbeing operated during a portion only of the signaling period in onedirection, the operating time of the respective channels differing fromeach other, a receiver for each of said channels operating in responseto impulses transmitted over its individual channel, and meanscomprising a sj-,uichronously operating repeating device whereby each ofsaid receivers is operated during the entire signaling period of saidline.

9. In a telegraph system, a first station, a remote station', amulti-channel system including a signaling line connecting saidstations, a receiver at said second station for each of said channels,means for apportioning a predetermined portion or" said signaling lineperiod to each of said channels, the operating time of the respectivechannels in the same direction differing from each other, and 1meanscomprising a synchronously operating krepeating device whereby thereceiver 'individual to each of said channels is operated during thefull signaling period of said signaling line. Y

'10. In -a telegraph system, a first station, a repeating station,remote station, a single channel system, connecting said first stationand said repeating station, a multi-channel vsystem connecting saidrepeating and said remote station, said multi-channel system includingas one of its channels the channel connecting said first station andsaid repeating station and synchronously operating means comprising arepeating device for apportioning the signals between the channels inaccordance with the traffic of said channels and proportioning thelength of the impulses so that said single channel system connectingsaid first and second stations and said system connecting said secondand said remote stations are operated at maximum capacity.

l1. In a telegraph system, a first station, a second station, asignaling line connecting said stations, a transmitter at said firststation, a receiver atsaid second station, means Yfor associating saidtransmitter with said signaling line only for a portion of the signalingperiod suflicient to transmit signaling impulses to operate saidreceiver and means for lengthening said impulses to operate saidreceiver continuously.

l2. In a telegraph system, a first station, a second station, asignaling line connecting said stations, a transmitter at said firststation, a receiver at said second station, means whereby saidtransmitter impresses impulses of predetermined length on said signalingline less than the signaling period, means comprising a synchronouslyoperating repeating device for increasing the signalV length of saidsignaling impulses at said second station and means 7for transmittingsaid impulses of increased length to operate said receiver.

' 13. ln a telegraph system, comprising a first station, a secondstation, a transmitter at said rst station and a receiver at said secondstation, the method 4of signaling which comprises transmitting impulsesover said line for fractions oi"- the signaling line period of achannel, increasing the length of the impulses to consume the entiresignaling line period of a channel and operating said receiver by saidincreased impulses.

14. ln'a telegraph system, a first station, a second station, amulti-channel telegraph system including a signaling line associatingsaid stations, a high speed channel transmitter associated with one ofsaid channels, a lowV speed channel transmitter associated with theother ot said channels, and means for associating said channels withsaid signaling line for periods of time proportionate to the signalingtraine ot said respective channels.

l5. 1n a telegraph system, a first station, a second station, amulti-channel telegraph system including a signaling line connectingsaid stations, a high speed channel transmitter associated i with one ofsaid channels, a low speed channel transmitter associated with the otherof said channels, means for associating said channels with saidsignaling line for periods of time proportionate the signaling traflicof said channels, a high speed channel receiver at said second stationassociated with the same channel Vas said high speed channeltransmitter, a low speed channel receiver lat said second stationassociated with said low speed channel transmitter and means wherebysaid receivers are operated to produce a continuous record in responseto impulses transmitted by their respective high and low speed channeltransmitters.

1G. ln a telegraph system, a first station, a second station, a thirdstation, a multi-channel telegraph system including signaling linesconnecting said first and said second stations and said second and saidthird stations, a high speed channe transmitter at said first station, alow speed channel transmitter at said first station, each or" saidtransmitters being associated with a different channel, means-forassociating said transmitters with said signaling line for periods oftime dependent upon the signaling trailic of said respectivetransmit-ters, means at said second station for repeating the signalingimpulses of said high speed transmitter to said signaling lineconnecting said second and third stations, a low speed rec-order at saidsecond station, means for isolating said impuls fromsaidlovv speedchannel transmitter to operate said loW speed channel recorder at saidsecond station, a transmitter at said second station for transmittingimpulses from said second to said third stations over said loW speedchannel, and high and low speed channel recorders at said third stationassociated With said high,

and loW speed channels respectively7 and operated by impulses receivedover said channels to produce continuous records.

17. In a telegraph system, a first station, a second station, a thirdstation, a multi-channel telegraph system including signaling linesconnecting said viirst and said second stations, and said second andsaid third stations, a high speed channel transmitter at said iirststation, a loW speed channel transmitter at said first station, each ofsaid transmitters being associated With a different channel, means forassociating said transmitters With said signaling line for periods oftime dependent upon the signaling traffic of said transmitters,means atsaid second station for repeating the impulses of said high the lineeach for the period of time allotted to its channel.

20. In a multi-channel telegraph system, a plurality of stations, asignaling line connecting said stations'in which the channels thereofare operable at unequal signaling speeds, a rotary distributor at onestation provided with a segmented transmitting ring I,

having its segments divided into a plurality of groups, said groupsbeing divided into unequal sets Which are allotted to the respectivechannels of the signaling line, and means for impressing the codesignals :tor the respective channels upon said sets of the distributorin succession.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CRESCENT F. NELSON.

speed channel transmitter to said signaling` v line connecting saidsecond and third stations, a loW speed channel recorder at said secondstation, means for isolating said impulses from said loW speed channeltransmitter to operate said loW speed channel recorder at said secondstation, a transmitter at said second station for transmitting impulsesfrom said second station to said third station over said low speedchannel, and high and loW speed channel recorders at said third stationassociated with said high and low speed channels respectively andoperated by impulses received over said channels, and means whereby saidrecorders produce continuous records.

18. In a multi-channel telegraph system, a iirst station, a secondstation, a signaling line connecting said stations in Which diierentchannels thereof have diii'erent signaling speeds, transmitters at saidirst station equal to the number of channels, and automatic means forconnecting said transmitters successively to said line for portions ofthe signaling period corresponding to said signaling speeds.

19. In a multi-channel telegraphsystem, a first station, a secondstation, a signaling line connecting said stations in Which differentchannels thereof have different signaling speeds, a plurality oftransmitters at said first station, and a rotary distributor providedWith a segment-ed transmitting ring having its segments divided into vaplurality of groups, said groups being operatively connected to saidtransmitters in accordance With to the respective transmitters, wherebythe transmitters Will be successively connected to

